This is a statement from Jasmine Morrison, a Newark mother whose children attend public schools in the city and runs a Newark-based parent advocacy group called Unapologetic Parents. Morrison is responding to the Newark School Board’s refusal to allow the public to weigh in on its secret ten-year renewal of Superintendent Roger Leon–except for one Board member who made a motion to open up last Thursday’s meeting to public comment in order to “give the public the opportunity to voice their concerns.” The deadline for the Board to  listen to Newark residents is tomorrow, Jan. 31st. For background, see here.

Late last week, many new and valuable points came to light at the Newark School Board meeting regarding Roger Leon’s renewal as Superintendent.

Before the meeting, and only through independent reporting by our city’s local journalists, Newarkers learned that Roger Leon would now have basically a ten-year contract to be Superintendent.

As troubling as this is, last night Newarkers learned much more – and it only gets worse.

Through the brave actions of Board Member Chrystal Williams, who chose to be the one Newark Board Member to stand for transparency and community, we learned that our own Board would not even consider a motion for there to be a public discussion on Mr. Leon’s renewal.

The Board’s job is to represent the public, and if the public is saying it does not feel it had a fair opportunity to express its thoughts on this matter, the Board should support them.

After decades of state control of our school system, it has only been a handful of years where we have been allowed to have an elected school board – have we learned nothing?

Last night, through their dismissive actions, the School Board had the nerve to gaslight the outpouring of community members who attended the meeting – when simply all we tried to do was share our voice.

This is a sad day for governance in Newark and a sad day for our democracy.

On behalf of parents throughout Newark, I want to thank Board Member Chrystal Williams, the lone wolf who tried to raise a motion to non-renew the contract and start a process to gain community input.

For all to see, Ms. Williams was ignored and eventually silenced by the very Board she was elected to serve on.  But make no mistake, last night – a Newark star was born. Ms. Williams is a brave Newark woman who is not only on the right side of history but whose focus and dedication to the people of Newark will not be forgotten.

Between the ten-year contact and the need to hide it, something does not smell right. The community has questions, and we need the support of our leadership to get answers. In the coming days, through greater communication, respect, fairness, and transparency, we hope the Newark School Board will do what is morally and ethically correct.